Inking attachment for printing-machines.



H. C. GA MMETERJ. -INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. l, 1909.

. 1,047,626 Patnted Dec. 17,1912.

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- Patented Dec. 17,1912.

H.'O.- GAMMETER. INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. I 1909.

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HUG. GAMMETER. INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APELIOATION FILED MAB. 1, 1909. 1,047,626, Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

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INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909.

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Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

H. 0. GAMMETER. INKING ATTAQHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION'TILBD HA3. 1, 1909.

Patented Dec;17,1912.

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. Arnzz H. '0. GAMMETERT INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MAGHINBS AliLIOATION nun-n11. 1, 1909.

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UEQTED STATEtd PATENT QFFICE.

HARRY C. GA MMETER, OF BRATENAHL, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN MULTI- GRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

i To all whom may concern:

a very simple and cl'licient inking; ineclninism for printing; machines, particularlysmall oliiee printing machine's having a rotary printing drum. of the type known as the multigrznih. though my attachment may be applied to other machines.

My inkingattachment comprises an inking fountain. an absorbent roll means For periodically and controlledly supplying ink to the absorbent: roll, and a distributing roll to convey the ink from the absorbent roll to the type. The al. sorbent roll may be very eliectively madeot "Felt, the ink carried to it by fingers periodically moved against; the felt from the inking Fountain, while the distributor roll may be of rubber.

The invention inchules the combination of the absmbent roll and the distributing roll with theink supply tor the absorbentroll.

.t includes also the particular materials mentioned, though itis not limited thereto.

It includes :lurther the mechanism for supplying the ink lo'the absorbent roll, n'11ans 'l or operating the various mrts for adjustingthem. for regulating the ink supply to the absorbent roll. and for throwing out of action the distrihuter roll, and other features hereinafter explained.

The invention may accordingly be best summarized as comprising the combinations of cooperating parts illustrated herein and set; out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 113 an end VlQW ofa rotary printing llltlClllliQOl multigraph equipped with my inking attachment. The

remaining figures are on an enlarged scale.-

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the inking attaclnnent. Fig. -3 is a vertical section of the sanie'parallel with Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the left hand portion of the ink- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1, 1909.

INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

Patented Dec. 1 "2', 1912. Serial No. 480,508.

ing attachment. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the right hand portion. The two latter tignres, with the intermediate broken-out part.

constitute a complete reanelevation. Fig. (i

is a. horizontal section taken just above the ink trough. The remaining figures are details.

As shown in the drawings. represents the end plate of a rotary printing machine of the mnltigraph type. Beyond this end plate is a rotary drum carrying longitudinal rows of type. This type cooperates with a suitable platen mounted beneath the drum and parallel with it, indicated by the dotted line 13. The printing drum is provided with a gearing 18 which meshes with a gear below it. driving the platen. On the rear edge of the end frame 10 is a flattened boss 15. ()n the rear edge of the corresponding frame, at the other end of the drum is a similar boss. and to these two bosses is secured my inking attachment, which is accordingly removable as a whole, the secureinc-nt being ellected by means of a pair of screws 16 at each end. p

The frame of the inking attachment. comprises two end members 20 and 21 which are secured to the two frame, plates of the printing machine respectively. Between these end members are mounted an ink-carrying trough 25, an absorbent roll 26 above the trough, and a distrilnitingroll 27 above the absorbent roll, the distributing roll being in position to engage both the absorbent roll and the type on the printing drum. \Vithin the trough are a series of elastic lingers :30 projecting from a rock shaft which is periodically rocked to lift the fingers out of the trough and thereby carry a small quantity of ink to the felt roller. A suitable gear 28. mounted on a sleeve 29 projecting from the plate 20, and connected with the main gear 18 on the printing drum rotates the distributing roll of the inking attachment. A ratchet mechanism operated by this ro- 1 tates acani which gives a period'? actuation to the lingers. The absorbent roll receives its rotation from contact with the distributing roll. v \i I will now describe the support and adjustment of'the distributing roll.

Mounted in the frame members 20 and 21 are a pair, of bushings 32 and 33 which have eccentric bores. These bushings have flanged heads 35 with holes 36 for the application of a spanner wrench, so that they may be conveniently turned and there held in adjusted position by set screws 37. Occupying these bushings and accurately adjusted in position by them is the shaft 40 on which the distributing roll 27 turns. Thisshaft has rigidly secured to its end an operating lever 44 of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The body of this shaft, where it passes through the roller 27, is eccentric to the portion journaled within the bushings 32 and 33. This eccentricity is conveniently provided by turning down the end portions of the shaft eccentrically as indicated by 45. and 46, the reduced portion 45 being surrounded by a sleeve 47 of a constant thickness to enlarge the eccentric bearing at that end at all points beyond the intermediate portion 48 of the shaft. With this construction, the shaft may be drawn as a whole longitudinally outward through the bushing 32, thus entirely freeing the distributing roll 27 and allowing it to be removed for cleaning.- By securing the shaft rigidly to the operating lever, a convenient handle is provided for the removing of the shaft. The thumb nut 49 is adapted to clamp this lever in place. 1

L'The construction described not only provides for mounting the distributing roll so that it may be removed whenever desired, but provides for its accurate adj ustment and for throwing it into and out of position.

The bushings 32 and 33 are first adjusted independently and set so that the roll is parallel with the surface of the printing drum. The lever 44 is then adjusted to cause the roll to bear as desired against the printitng drum. When desired, the lever 44 may be thrown backward to carry the distributing roll entirely out of contact with the printing drum. The distributing roll is driven by a pin 42 on head 41 (rigid with the gear 28) which occupies a slot 43 in the end of the roll. This connection provides freedom for the eccentric adjustment, and also enables the removal of the roll when the shaft is withdrawn. The primary adjustment of the bushings 32 and 33 is such and the eccentrics extend in such direction, that the proper bearing of the distributing roll against the absorbent roll is obtained, while movement of the lever changes the bearing of the distributing roll against the drum without materially varying its presentation to the absorbent roll. To enable this operation, a considerable range of movement of the lever 44 is desirable, and this I accomplish by making openings or slots 50 and 51 on opposite sides of it which may be occuing the removal of the felt roller.

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pied by the shank of the thumb nut 49, this nut screwing into one of several holes 53 in the end member 20.

As has bden stated, the roller 27 is preferably of soft rubber, or has a soft rubber coating for the purpose of distributing ink from the supply roll 26 to the type. The roll 26 is absorbent, being made of felt on a suitable core, and carries the supply from which the distributing roller receives its ink. This supply roll has metal ends 60 and 61 which have center bores whereby the roller is journaled. The bore in the end 60 rests on the projecting end of a stationary stud 63. The bore in the member (51 is occupied by the inner end of the screw 64. This screw is normally turned in by a knurled head 65 to its extreme limit and is stationary. The turning out of this screw by means of this head furnishes very simple means for allowl Vhen the w is turned outwardly sufliciently, the roller may be moved in that direction to clear the stud '63. In operation it is to be understood that this felt roller maintains 'contactwith the elastic roller and has its under surface a short distance above the ink trough or fountain 25, and that the ink is periodically lifted in small amounts at various points from the trough to the felt roller.

The inking trough 25vis removable as a whole. It is preferably a casting with a front 70, ends 71 and 72, and a bottom 73, which curves upwardly toward the rear, and forms also the back of the trough. Mounted in the ends 71 and 72 are studs 75 which project in each direction from these ends and are held in place by suitable set screws 76. The outwardly projecting ends of these studs form the means for supporting the rear portion of the trough, these studs ocbers 20 and 21. The trough is supported near its forward end by screw studs 78 and '79 which screw through the frame members into the trough near its front end. These screw studs may be conveniently turned out-- wardly by their knurled heads, which frees the trough so that it may be drawn forwardly out of its rear support and removed entirely. The same studs 75 which, being carried by the trough, provide its rear support, provide also the means for holding the rock shaft, which carries the fingers 30 This rock shaft is designated 80. It has bores at its opposite ends into which the ends of the studs 75 project. Accordingly. this rock shaft with its fingers is removablefrom the inking attachment with the trough. It is also conveniently removable from the trough by loosening the set screws 76 and drawing the studs outwardly.

'cupying forwardly facing slots in U-shapcd lugs 77 on the inner faces of the frame memwith the ratchet teeth.

7 to elevate the fingers.

. 83 bears against. the

The fingers are preferably of sheet metal, being made in one piece or a number of part: as desired, and are mounted at the rear on the rockshaft S0. t

iiiding the rock shaft is L spring 82 tending to rock the shaft in a direction.

Secured to the shaft is a lever 82), one end of the springbeing secured to this lever and the other end. extending loosely and being adapted to lie against. the base (it the trough 25. The lever periphery of a cam 85, which is loosely mounted on a stationary stud (l3. Mounted onthis stud. and rigid with the cam is the ratchet wheel 86 Freely mounted on the stud also is the lever 87 carrying a. pawl 88, which, under the in fluence of a spring 89, is adapted to engage A. spring 90 tends to keep the lever elevated, and bearing against a'cain 92, rigid with the main gear 28 ofthe inking attachment. The result of this mechanism is that as the main gear revolves, the cam 92, which may be simply an eccentric, forces the lever gradually downwardly to feed the ratchet,-t 1e spr ng returning .the'lever when the cam allows 1t.

Accordingly, with successive rotations of the distributing roller, the ratchet is fed step by rise, and this thereby periodically.

; are shown. in perspective step. This feeds the cam 85 correspondingly, which freeing the lever 83, allows the spring to rock the fingers upwardly through the ink against the supply roller. Ink is thus applied in small quantities to the supply roll, without that roll being in contact with the ink in the fountain. The fingers 30 close enough together so that the ink supplied by them to the elastic roll is absi'irbed by the latter along a continuous surface. A friction spring 94: secured to the member 20 and bearing against the. side of the ratchet 86'prevents the fingers 30 being inadvertently elevated by the spring 82 when the lever 83 comes onto the decreasing face of the cam 85. The amount of ink which the supply roll receives may be varied by var ing the frequency with which the fingers is controlled by a stop screw 95 mounted in thefran'ie and abutted by a lip 96 on the lever 87. This stop screw is adjusted by its knurled head and limits the movement of the lever, allowing it to feed the ratchet [oneor more teeth, as desired, conveying the right amount of ink to the roller. vA detent pawl 93 prevents backward rotation of the ratchet.

To'enable ink to be supplied to the feltroller in larger quantity in certain places than others to' accommodate the ink to the matter on the printing drum, I. provide a series-of stops adapted to be set to throw out, of action any of the fingers desired. These stops consistof spring clips 100 of the in Fig. 8, andv consist of sheet metal doubled toward itself. The clins are inounted on a rod 10.1., which carried in ears on the trough and clamped by screws 102. The clips occupy notches in the front edge of thetrough and overhang such edge rearwardly, and may have their rear ends standing above the trout ends of the fingers. This is the position of the clips shown in Fig. 3, and any clip occupying such position would engage and stop the finger beneath it'.'pi-eveiiting it engaging the felt roller. The clips are normally turned into a diagonal taco is parallel withthe rear face of the trough and are thus outot' coi'iperat ion with the fii'ige-rs,-the notches which the "clips occupy'having their bottoms inclining downwardly, as at 105, to allow this movement. The lower ends of the clips preferably have notches 106 wherebythey may be engaged by the operators finger and easily turned ontheir supporting rod to shift them into this idle position. In such position, they are held by their own elasticity, engaging the walls of the notch in the trough. 'litrii,

any particular portion of the printing surface-is receiving too much ink, one or more fingers at thecorresponding position of the trough have their outer ends swung downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3

to cause the stops to over-hang the fingers.

Then when the fingers thereafter rise, the particular finger beneath the active stop '13 engaged and prevented from airrying ink to the roller,--the depending end 108 oil the stop forming an abutment and preventing the upward movement oi. the finger. The fingers are elastic enough se'that the engageinentof any not interfere with the turning of the rock shaft, and the lifting of the nncngaged fingers against the absorbentroll.

It will be seen that by this mechanism, I iave provided a sell contained inking attachmentwhich is adapted to be attached to a mi'iltigraph or rotary printing machine, or removed at will therefrom, and that the individual parts of theinking attachment are very conveniently removable for purposes of cleaning, without reinoviin); the at taehn'icnt as a whole from the innltigraph. Then in use, the combination of the felt and rubber rollers distril'intes the ink vrr e'l't'ectivcly to the type. The adjustment of the distributing roll with reference to the type is very simple and enables the right aii'io-nnt of ink to be given the type for the desired in'ipression, while thedistributing roll is caused tohave the proper bearing on the supply roll. veyed' from the fountain'to the supply roll is very conveniently regulatechnot' only. as a whole, but in individual portions, accord ing to the matter being printed. Taken as:

Furthermore, the ink conposition so that their rear of them bythe stops do a Whole, the construction is very simple and efiective.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an inking attachment, the combination of an inking roll, an absorbent roll, an inking fountain for the absorbent roll, automatically actuated mechanism movable from the fountain into contact with the absorbent roll for transferring ink from the fountain to the absorbent roll, andmeans for varying the amount transferred.

2. In an inking attachment, the combination of a'distributing roll, an absorbent supply r'oll, an inking fountain, and periodically actuated fingers adapted to be immersed in the fountain and move therefrom into contact with the absorbent roll to carry ink from the fountain to the supply roll.

3. In an inking attachment, the combination of a roll, an inking fountain, periodically actuated fingers adapted to carry ink from the fountain to the roll, and means for controlling the action of particular fingers.

at. I11 an inking attachment, the combination of a distributing roll, a supply roll, an

inking fountain, periodically actuated fingers adapted to carry ink from the fountain to the supply roll, and means for throwing out. of action particular fingers.

5. 'In an inking attachment, the combination, with an absorbent roll, of mechanism for periodically supplying ink thereto and means for varying the points of application of such ink to the absorbent roll.

(3. The combination with a. printing machine, of a distributing roll, means for continuously rotating it, an absorbent supply roll in contact therewith, an inking fountain beneath the supply roll, and means movable upwardly in the fountain to lift ink therefrom to the under side of the supply roll.

7. In an inking attachment, the combination of a supply roll, an inking fountain, fingers movable from the fountain to the roll, and adjustable stops for controlling individual fingers.

8. In an inking attachment, the combination of a supply roll, an inking fountain, fingers movable from the fountain to the roll, and adjustable stops for engaging individual fingers to hold them from engaging the roll.

9. In an inking attachment, the combination of a supply roll, an inking fountain, fingers movable from the fountain to the roll, a member having a series of notches, and adjustable stops for engaging individual fingers to hold them from engaging the roll, said stops comprising spring members occupying individual notches in said member.

10. In an inking attachment, the combination of a supply roll, an inking fountain,

fingers movable from the fountain to the roll, and adjustable stops for engaging individual fingers to hold them from engaging the roll, said stops comprising members pivotally mounted on a rod.

11. In an inking attachment, the combination of a trough. a ek shaft extending along the same and he ing a series of projecting elastic fingers adapted to occupy the trough, an absorbent roll journaled above the trough, mechanism for periodically rocking the shaft to lift the fingers from the ink in the trough against the roll, and means for controlling individual fingers to vary the amount of ink carried to the roll.

12. In an inking attachment, the combination of a trough, a rock shaft extending along the same and having a series of projecting elastic fingers adapted to occupy the trough, an absorbent roll journalcd above the trough, mechanism for periodically rocking the shaft to lift the fingers from the ink in the trough against the roll, and a series of stops adapted to engage individual fingers to prevent their contacting'with the roll.

13. The combination with a rotaryv printing drum, of a distributing roll, means for continuously rotating it concurrently with the rotation of the drum, an absorbent supply roll, an inking fountain beneath the supply roll, and non-absorbent means movable upwardly in the fountain to lift ink therefrom to the under side of the supply roll.

14. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a rotatable distributing roll geared therewith, a supply roll cooperating with the distributing roll, a trough for carrying ink, a rock shaft having approximately horizontal fingers occupying said trough, and a cam for periodically moving said fingers upwardly from the trough to a position against the supply roll, whereby the fingers may bodily lift a film of liquid ink to the supply roll.

15. In an inking attachment, the combina tion of a supply roll, an inking fountain, fingers movable from the fountain to the roll, a cam for causing such movement, and

means for controlling the individual fingers.

16. In an inking attachment, the combination of a supply roll, an inking fountain, fingers adapted to carry ink from the fountain to the supply roll, a cam and ratchet for periodically actuating said fingers, and means for regulating the feed of the ratchet.

17.. In an inking attachment, the combination of a distributing roll, a supply roll, an inking fountain, fingers adapted to carry ink from the fountain to the supply roll. a cam, ratchet and pawl for operating said fingers, and. means for throwing out of action particular fingers.

18. The combination with a rotary printer having vertical frame plates, of an inking attachment having end frames adapted to from the ink in the trough against said r011,

be secured to said frame plates, a trough removably mounted on said. end frames, a rock shaft extending along'the same and having a series of projecting fingers adapted to occupy the trough, an absorbent r011 j ournaled above the trough, mechanism for peri0di -j Cally rocking the shaft to lift the fingers and-a distributing roll to convey ink from the absorbent roll. v

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY C. GAMMETER. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES, CURT B. MUELLER. 

